Government agency required

deployment of RFID-based
FOREST TIMBER TRACKING SYSTEM
Easy identification of individual trees in a forest TECHNOLOGY

Accurate identification of source of timber from logging Solution:

to destination EPC Gen2 compliant
inventory tracking solution
Automated verification at check-posts Tag Type:
Metallica™ UHF Passive
Prevention of timber theft and unauthorized tree felling
Personna™ UHF Passive
Parka™ UHF Passive

Reader/Antenna:
Xtenna™
HandyScanna™

Method:
Multiple Tracking via Integrated
Reader/Antenna modules
Single Tracking via hand-held

Integration Platform:
RFID Middleware:
Xtenna™ WebToolkit
Xtenna™ Studio
Application: Essen RFID’s
Forest Timber Tracking System
Database: SQL Server 2005 Exp. ed.

Tag Manufacturer/Supplier:
Essen RFID, with US based chip inlay

Reader/Antenna Manufacturer:
Essen RFID, with US based module

Systems Integrator:
Essen RFID
INSIDE:
Key Requirements
For further details contact:
Solution
Essen RFID
Implementation
24-B, Jolly Maker II
Working Nariman Point
Benefits Mumbai 400021 India
Links www.essenrfid.com
KEY REQUIREMENTS:

Due to widespread deforestation and depletion of forest cover, the government

has put in place certain guidelines to be followed for timber harvesting.
Permission is granted for a certain number of trees of particular species only, in
order to allow adequate regeneration. In the current forestry process being
followed, this gives rise to a few practical difficulties.

There is difficulty in identifying the correct trees that can be logged. The existing
manual system relies on painting a number on the tree. However the number
disappears over a period of time. Hence the correct tree cannot be located. If a
wrong tree is cut down, the authorities are unable to identify the person
responsible and thus cannot take action against him.

Main challenges are:

ŸKeeping track of growing timber trees in the forest.
ŸLocating the tree meant for logging amongst all the various trees in the forest.
ŸDifficulty in identifying the source of timber that has been logged. Therefore it
is not possible to identify if trees have been illegally cut.
ŸTracking trucks carrying timber leaving the forest.
ŸPreventing theft of timber, which is a scarce and valuable natural resource.

SOLUTION:

Essen RFID provided a solution that effectively maintains information

throughout the entire process using RFID, keeping track of timber, forestry
personnel and trucks carrying the logs.

IMPLEMENTATION:

A METALLICA™ RFID tag is fixed to each growing tree for

unique identification. After trees are logged, each log of
timber is registered to and fixed with a METALLICA™ tag.
A PERSONNA™ ID tag is issued to each of the forestry staff.
HandyScanna™ hand-held devices are used when trees are
to be harvested. Xtenna™ antenna-readers are installed as a
portal at forest check-posts for tracking trucks transporting
timber. A PARKA™ tag is attached to each truck carrying timber,
so that the vehicle can be tracked along with its contents.

The solution uses SQL Server as the back-end database. The HandyScanna™
is equipped with Essen RFID’s mobile based application, connected via GPRS,
which receives and sends data when there is satellite coverage over the forest
area.

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WORKING:

The government required a Forest Timber Tracking System to monitor legal

timber being logged and sent out from the forest. RFID makes this process
visible by making sure that tree felling in the forest is done only as permitted and
that correct royalties are paid for the same. The tracking system is used for the
following purposes:
Ÿ Managing information about trees being grown for timber.
Ÿ Keeping track of source of timber logged.
Ÿ Keeping a record of timber leaving the forest and the trucks that are loading
the timber.

Working Process Flow:

Each growing tree in the forest belonging to species that provide timber, is
affixed with a RFID tag. Each tag has a unique number identifying the individual
tree to which it has been fixed. For each tag, details such as type of tree,
approximate volume and length when ready for logging, registration date, date
when logging is to be done, etc. are registered into the timber tracking system.
1. The supervising official analyses available information and decides which
trees can be harvested and when they will be ready for this purpose. When
an order is received for a particular type of timber, the forestry staff search
for this timber type and the number of trees that are suitable for logging.
Using the HandyScanna™, they can read the tagged trees and retrieve their
details. On deciding if the tree is to be felled,
they mark its tag ID in the HandyScanna™
as ready for felling. The order is confirmed
and this data is sent by HandyScanna™ via
GPRS connectivity.
2. The confirmed order data is received by the
logging personnel on their HandyScanna™
device along with a blinking alert. In the
specified area, they locate each tree
authorized for felling, by scanning its tag
using their HandyScanna™ device. They
then scan their own PERSONNA™ ID tags
to authenticate their authorization for
logging, after which they can fell the tree.
3. After the trees are felled, they are trimmed
into logs on site. If some logs are very large,
they are sawed into smaller logs. Each
smaller log is also fixed with a METALLICA™
tag and its information such as length, volume, parent log from which it has
been sawed, etc. is recorded in the HandyScanna™.

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4. The logged timber is stored in the forest till
loading is done on trucks. As each loaded
truck moves out, it has to pass through a
check-post portal gate that has been erected
with multiple Xtenna™ antenna-readers
mounted on it. The Xtenna™ reads the truck’s
PARKA™ tag, as well as the METALLICA™ tags
on each log of timber being carried by the
truck. The system checks that this timber leaving the forest consists of logs
that have been registered for felling. If any unauthorized timber is found, a
signal light turns on alerting security personnel at the check-post.

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5. A check-post can also be easily set up along the route to the warehouse or
saw-mill to track timber on the move. Each post has the data of authorized
logs from the loading portal available to it as well as the truck ID and can
easily verify that illegal timber has not been picked up along the way.
Random checking for individual logs can also be done at any point using
the HandyScanna™ hand-held device.
6. If a logging order is issued when a HandyScanna™ is in use, the order gets
automatically placed on another HandyScanna™ device, so that personnel
resources are fully utilized and supervisors can detect which personnel are
deployed on a particular duty at any given time.

BENEFITS:

Easy identification of individual trees in a forest along with their details.

Ÿ
Accurate identification of trees that have been authorized for felling.
Ÿ
Accurate identification of source of timber. Each log can be verified regarding
Ÿ
the tree it has come from and if it has been sawed from a larger log.
Prevention of timber theft due to unauthorized tree felling.
Ÿ
Automated verification at check-posts results in streamlined hassle-free
Ÿ
movement of authorized timber.
Easy identification of quantum of timber movement and pin-pointing which
Ÿ
log is missing in transit.
Reduction in manual record-keeping.
Ÿ
Automated reports result in ready availability of information for planning,
Ÿ
scheduling and conservation.

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LINKS:
Hardware:

Tags:

Software:

Reference Example:
http://www.essenrfid.com/Mailer/accessparking-flash-demo.pdf

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